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SERVES AS AN ANALOGY. MANZIE WAS NATURALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT HE COULD PERSUADE LI PENG OF THE DESIRABILITY OF

A POSITIVE PRC RESPONSE ON THE PROJECT.

8.

ADAMS HAS DISCUSSED THE CASE FOR A MANZIE/LI PENG MEETING WITH MCLAREN. THEY AGREED THAT MANZIE COULD USE

THIS OCCASION TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT FOR HONG KONG (REPEATING LORD YOUNG'S ADVOCACY) AND ENCOURAGE LI PENG TO SHOW CHINESE SUPPORT. HE COULD ALSO STRESS THE KEENESS OF THE ANGLO-JAPANESE CONSORTIUM TO SEE CHINA INVOLVED THROUGH THE BANK OF CHINA, CHINESE CIVIL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES (WITH WHOM COSTAINS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AT SHAJIAO B) AND THROUGH SUCH ORGANISATIONS AT CITIC.

9.

BEFORE DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER WITH MANZIE WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE WISDOM AND EFFICACY OF SUCH A MEETING. WE FAVOUR IT IN

PRINCIPLE IF LI PENG IS IN FACT PREPARED TO SEE HIM. CHINESE SUPPORT FOR AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT IS INCREASINGLY DESIRABLE BOTH FOR HONG KONG AND FOR

BRITISH COMPANIES BIDDING FOR WORK. IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF HEAP COULD SOUND OUT THE GOVERNOR ON THIS TOO.

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MR ADAMS, PEP, DTI MR ROGERS, PEP, DTI MR GALLAHER, PEP, DTI MR MEADWAY, OT2, DTI

MR MCLAREN, FCO

MR ALAN PAUL, HKD, ECO MR DAVIES, FED, FCO COMED

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050704 MDLIAN 7531

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